BMAC
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate: what is it & when is it used?
What is BMAC?
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) procedure, also known as Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC) Therapy, is a promising innovative regenerative therapy used to enhance healing in certain orthopedic injuries.
The richest source of growth factors and stem cells are found in bone marrow. In BMAC therapy, the bone marrow is harvested and then spun in a centrifuge. This creates a concentrate that is rich in growth factors and stem cells. This concentration is then injected into the injured body part to stimulate the healing and regeneration of that damaged tissue.
Dr. Kevin Witte, sports medicine orthopedic specialist at Sano, uses Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate as an adjunct to surgical procedures to enhance healing.
Conditions treated with BMAC
Several conditions can be considered treatment with BMAC. Utilizing research and clinical outcomes, our orthopedic regenerative medicine team utilizes BMAC in certain tendon, cartilage and ligament injuries, as well as moderate osteoarthritis of the knee and shoulder. It is most often performed as an adjunct to certain elective surgeries to enhance healing.
Specific uses for Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate include:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee and shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears
- UCL tears in the elbow of throwing athletes
- Ligament tears
- Muscle strains or tears
- Articular cartilage injuries
- Advanced tendon injuries
BMAC for Sports Medicine
Improving patient outcomes is the key goal for our sports medicine surgeons. Numerous orthobiologics have been advocated in the orthopedic literature as an adjunct to routine healing in order to increase successful outcomes. BMAC is not recommended for all injuries or patients; with our specialized training we can help determine if BMAC could enhance healing for you.
BMAC Procedure - what to expect
The physician removes a small amount of the patient’s bone marrow. The physician then spins it in a centrifuge in order to generate a powerful concentrate that is injected into the injured area.
The procedure can be administered in the office environment. It is more often used as an adjunct to surgery to promote healing and recovery.
Is it Painful?
While there is some slight discomfort, most patients tolerate the procedure very well and with minimal pain. The procedure is done under local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort. Post-injection soreness at the injection site is sometimes present because of an inflammatory response caused by BMAC therapy.
How does it work?
The science behind BMAC is that the injection of the concentrated regenerative cells at an area of your body experiencing degeneration will kick start your body’s ability to heal itself. These injections can be given independently or in conjunction with an orthopedic surgical procedure.
How long does it take to work?
Most patients notice some level of improvement a few weeks following BMAC. Increased stability and strength are typically reported along with the decrease in pain.
Who is a candidate? What does it cost?
As an adjunct to surgery, BMAC is recommended based on the injury and patient goals.
BMAC may be recommended for patients who have failed other conservative treatments, like physical therapy, other injections and/or medications. This conservative treatment option is sought by patients looking to avoid or delay elective surgery.
While BMAC is an innovative and often effective treatment option, it is not a covered service. This procedure is considered investigational, and thus non-covered and/or not medically necessary. This means the patient will be held financially responsible for the cost related to this procedure. With that in mind, Sano Orthopedics’ goal is to make it accessible to our patients to explore this option. Contact our care team to learn more.
With BMAC, the concentrate of regenerative cells provides a more robust healing of the damaged tissue and aids in growth and repair by accelerating the body’s natural healing mechanism.
The Orthopedic Specialists at Sano are committed to being on the forefront of this rapidly changing and advancing field. Our goal is to stimulate and optimize your body’s ability to heal chronic conditions by injecting BMAC/PRP into your injured areas. Contact us if you want to learn more.